A group of elders and key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has strongly opposed the emergence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The stakeholders described Danladi as lacking the political strength, leadership capacity, and public appeal required to lead the party to victory in the next gubernatorial contest. They argued that his candidacy does not represent the APC’s best chance of retaining power in the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin on Monday, the group, led by Chief James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, warned that the APC risks losing Kwara State to the opposition if the party’s national leadership fails to address the growing discontent surrounding the candidate’s emergence.
According to the elders, the process that produced Danladi as the party’s flag bearer was deeply flawed and lacked transparency. They alleged that the governorship primary election reportedly scheduled for May 21, 2026, never took place.
They expressed concern that despite this, Danladi—who had already secured a return ticket to the State Assembly—was unexpectedly announced as the winner of a governorship primary that, in their view, did not occur.
“The circumstances surrounding the outcome of the governorship primary have generated serious concerns among party members and stakeholders across the state,” Ayenioye said.
The group also criticised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the leader of the APC in Kwara State, for endorsing Danladi’s candidacy and presenting him to the party’s national leadership despite what they described as widespread dissatisfaction within the party.
They further alleged that critical stakeholders, including governorship aspirants, party elders, and several political office holders, were neither adequately consulted nor involved in decisions that would significantly shape the future of the APC in the state.
According to them, Danladi is neither the most popular nor the most widely accepted aspirant within the party. They argued that he lacks the statewide appeal needed to unite party members, attract undecided voters, and effectively challenge an increasingly formidable opposition.
The elders also questioned his ability to provide the leadership necessary to tackle the developmental, economic, and security challenges facing Kwara State.
They noted that after extensive consultations with party members and stakeholders across the three senatorial districts, as well as careful observation of public sentiment and the changing political landscape, they concluded that the party was heading in the wrong direction.
As a result, the group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene in the situation.
They urged the party’s leadership to engage more broadly with stakeholders in Kwara State and prioritise the long-term stability, unity, and success of the APC over the interests of a few individuals.
“The future of the APC in Kwara State is too important to be sacrificed for the ambitions of a handful of people,” the elders warned.
